Critic Reviews

Integrating some nice variety into one game while maintaining its decidedly action-oriented dynamics, Dead Space is appealing across a wide cross-section of gameplay styles. Wrap an engrossing plot that is a veritable warren of intermingling themes around this and you've got a game that is basically a guaranteed experience. Dead Space is a solid realization of several of our favorite gameplay mechanics in a way that we've only seen in blockbusters like BioShock, Half-Life and Resident Evil 4. Its quality is undeniable and we have no reservation in recommending its potent mix of panic-inducing plotline, furious action and deep customization.

Dead Space is a masterful title that is sure to scare the crap out of you. Plus, there are three modes of difficulty, so this is an experience that casual and hardcore gamers alike simply cannot miss. This is a highly polished and well-crafted title that transcends standard video gaming. Simply put, it is one of the best games I've ever played.

Overall, Dead Space is an extraordinary game with tons of shock value and action to whet any fan's appetite for some time, and with a campaign that lasts a steady 10-12 hours, that’s plenty of time to get lost aboard the Ishimura. While the missions could have been a bit more fleshed out and a multiplayer component would have been welcome, the overall execution of the game is one of the highest quality; a factor that will help it lead this year’s Game of the Year honors.

Dead Space is a good example of refinement over innovation. By taking a fairly standard horror-shooter hybrid and applying an absurd amount of atmospheric polish to it, EA has created an instant action classic. While the ride is fairly short - the game could be completed in a few evenings - and offers no real extras, it’s perfected to the point where it’s entirely satisfying. This PC port should entertain anyone interested in a game worth playing with the lights down and the sound up. It’s a visceral, enthralling title that will leave players nothing short of breathless.

Dead Space is not exactly revolutionary. What it is, however, is a clever, beautiful, and exciting game. And above all, it's a hell of a blast to play. I think it's worth mentioning that there had been numerous times on my first playthrough where I thought, "Okay, if this was your average game, such-and-such is bound to happen right about now. So let the zombie face-pouncing commence." And the game proved me wrong almost every single time. Revolutionary or not, it's most definitely not your average game, and everything it tries to do it does exactly right, without having to rely on cheap tricks to make things work.

When all is said and done, Dead Space is a very enjoyable and satisfyingly lengthy survival horror with brilliantly immersive sci-fi elements. Whether borrowed, reworked or completely original, all the elements have been expertly crafted and put together. There’s a slight sense of uncertainty in relation to the game’s levels of realism, at times making sacrifices for the sake of it and at others disregarding it completely, but this is a minor quibble about one of the best survival horror games and most compelling sci-fi games of the current generation.

Those taken into account, you still end up with an absorbing, often terrifying game that fans of horror will lap up. The game’s mechanics are solid and challenging, the atmosphere provided by the visuals and sound utterly terrifying and it’ll last you too – there’s well over ten hours to be spent wandering around here. As an example of a game purposefully closing the walls in on you and funnelling you down a path you know you don’t want to tread through sheer fear of what is around the corner, it’s right up there with the best in the genre. One final bit of advice – make sure you don’t have cups of tea anywhere near you when you play; tea stains on jeans are most certainly not cool.

I know that no game is perfect but I can honestly say I had no technical issues with Dead Space at all. It did what it said it would and scared the hell out of me on a regular basis. Dead Space is one of the best survival horror games I have played and I look forward with baited breath to the sequel.

Dead Space is a remarkable game from a well-tread genre that manages to stand out from its competitors in almost every way, from visual presentation to engaging story, innovative combat mechanics to fright factor. Whether you're looking for a terrifying horror experience or a deeply story-driven adventure that will keep you engaged for 15-20 hours, Dead Space is a fantastic game that you should not pass on.

The game is intentionally claustrophobic in its workings and it helps create an atmospheric experience. Good controls, inventive weapon upgrading and unusual happenings make Dead Space something special. Pretty rough looking monsters, dark scary places for things to go bump in the night and now you are on your way to scaresville. Tight-looking locations, clean lines, and good A.I. Again, a well-scored, creepy-sounding game. I had already beat the game and I still got the heebie jeebies thanks to the awesome sounds and music. Ever since the movie Event Horizon, I have waited for a seriously scary game set on a derelict spaceship. I can now check that off my list, this game is a winner. An excellent new addition to the splinter group of action games centered around horror. I suspect they will make a sequel and I suspect it too will spawn a franchise. Dead Space gets it right when it comes to the scares.

Call it science fiction survival horror, but Dead Space does the genre proud with an engaging story; action that's tense, fast-paced and extremely violent; as well as atmospheric qualities that will get under your skin and make you jump. It may be a newcomer, but the seeds of an incredible franchise have been sown, and EA's in a great position to reap a phenomenal franchise full of scares. If you like survival horror, action or sci-fi, Dead Space needs to be on your radar.

Dead Space was definitely a risk for EA and it's great to see they were willing to run with it, because it is a fantastic game. It looks and sounds great, is a lot of fun to play and oozes atmosphere. During this very busy gaming season with so many great games coming out, there is a chance that this may be skipped over for other games with better-known names coming out in the coming month. This would be a frightful shame, as Dead Space is a game fans of action horror games should not miss! Its presentation is right up there with some of the best games of the last few years. So go forth and dismember!

Regardless of its pitfalls, Dead Space is worthy of your attention if you haven't played the game yet. With the sequel approaching rapidly, revisiting Dead Space would be time well spent. It's an excellent entry into the survival horror genre and should not be missed. Just don't do like I did and spend hours trying to convince yourself to move around the corner up ahead.

Dead Space is the first game that can truly be called post-BioShock. You’re an inexplicably mute character on a dark, claustrophobic spaceship dripping with spooky atmosphere, taking instructions from people who may or may not be playing you. But where BioShock was a psychological thriller, Dead Space is an action-horror game that prioritizes blood over brains.

Dead Space isn’t a perfect game. The controls are sticky, the levels are sometimes padded out needlessly and the atmosphere occasionally loses its scary edge – but it has strengths too. The graphics and presentation are top-notch, the violence is brutal and engaging and the plot is deeper than you’d expect. In the end, the game is just plain fun, so while it may not be to everyone’s cup of tea it certainly won’t leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Overall, Dead Space is a fine and very playable horror game, and while the relatively linear story line and straightforwardness of the battles don’t combine to offer much replay value, it’s still worth the price of admission.

Dead Space is welcomed with open arms here and to think EA have brought this a long is a nice surprise. Another thing we know is that EA love sequels and we can expect to see Dead Space 2 next year or at some point in the future. I sit here waiting to see what they do because this franchise can really be created into something memorable.

Despite lacking some tweaks that could have made the most horror-jaded gamers wet themselves, Dead Space delivers scares, gore and a truly disturbing gem of a game. If you’re up to a second go at the USG Ishimura, a completed playthrough will net you, a la Resident Evil 4, money and weapons upgrades that should have you staving off the infected at least one more time. Dead Space is a must buy for all fans of survival horror.

Still, Dead Space is worth playing. It’s not a BioShock sized home run, but the Zero Gravity sections and the admittedly tense moments are worth experiencing. If you’re torn on which version to buy, you won’t find a true PC adaption here. It’s not a bad port, but the lack of a true save game feature is likely to irk PC gamers who demand such a feature.